Philippines ‘doing good’ in getting trade partners

The country has been “doing good” in encouraging trade missions and relations in the country with different nations interested in investing and helping the country.

John Forbes, president of American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, said that the government should sustain the “commitment to double the infrastructure spending” since that is the challenge of the country’s economic landscape at present.

“Infrastructure makes the economy more efficient . . . Infrastructure are necessary to create jobs in the country,” he said.

Forbes added that the Philippines has been doing good with high levels of growth and institutional reforms.

For his part, Asia Pacific Regional Director Brett Heimburger of the State of Utah said that their recently held trade missions in the country aims to exchange business ties with the Philippines.

“But after coming here and looking at the country, we realize that we would want to help the Philippines,” he said, referring to infrastructure and energy efficiency in the country.

Some 12 business associations from Utah arrived in the Philippines to explore economic opportunities in the country. The firms and organizations included in the mission are TWODOG Wines, TestOut Inc., Nutranomics, School Improvement Network, Dr. Tim’s Juices, Albion Plant Nutrition, Summit National Products and call center organization In Contact, among others.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo Jr. said that the country is doing good in trade relations, and increased its trading volume with other nations by 70 percent in the first and second quarter of the year.

“Our performance and macroeconomic factors are good. Our industries are also strong, especially business process management,” Manalo said in Filipino.

Manalo said that there are more US trade missions arriving to the country in the future.

Aside from Utah, South Korea will also conduct a buying mission in the country.